Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is predicting a “big future” for Mackenzie Kirk, son of former Northern Ireland striker Andy, after the teenager made his debut for the Edinburgh club at the weekend.
Mackenzie came on for his first appearance for the Jambos as a late substitute for former Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Ross County.
The 18-year-old’s father Andy, now 42, joined Hearts from Irish League club Glentoran in 1999 and went on to earn 11 caps with Northern Ireland.
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On their Twitter account, Hearts posted a photograph of Andy holding a two-month-old Mackenzie in his arms after his final game for the club in 2004.
And after the game Neilson said: “It was great for Mackenzie. Liam (Boyce) had tight calves and we have some big games coming up.
“We thought, do we go defensive? But then we thought we might as well go and try and win the game.
“We put him on and if there’s anyone at this club who’s going to score and nick a goal, it’s Mackenzie because he’s a goalscorer and he gets things out of nothing.
“It’s great for the kid and if he continues to work hard, I’m sure he’ll have a big future.”
Two years ago, former Hearts academy manager Roger Arnott described Kirk Jr as “probably one of the best finishers I’ve seen coming through for a while.
He added: “He strikes a great ball and he’s got the ability to score goals from everywhere, outside and inside the box.”
Mackenzie, who was born in Edinburgh, has the perfect mentor in Andy who became a fans favourite at Hearts after arriving at Tynecastle from Glentoran in 1999.
He won 11 Northern Ireland caps between 2000 and 2010, coming on as a late substitute for David Healy in a 4-0 defeat to England in a World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford in 2005.
Mackenzie was recently called into a Northern Ireland U18s squad for the Federations Cup in Spain.
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